CONCERNS over swimmers’ safety off Bonbeach and Aspendale beaches have been flagged by Kingston Council.
Mayor Cr Tamsin Bearsley says council has written to Parks Victoria to request an extension of existing ‘no boating’ zones to keep boats and jet-skis away from people in the water offshore.
“At the moment some of the boating zones begin directly in front of the foreshore carparks, which is where most beach goers hop out of the car and head straight for the water,” Cr Bearsley said.
“Council has requested existing no boating zones are extended to ensure swimmers and water craft are kept safely apart. Jet-skis and boats should be kept well away from our key swimming areas.”
Gnotuk Ave in Aspendale, Williams Grove in Bonbeach and Watkins St/Coleman Rd in Aspendale are three areas where council wants to see no go zones extended for water craft.
Parks Victoria local ports and waterways manager Victor Teoh said new boating and swimming zones are being introduced across all of Port Phillip and Western Port to improve safety on the water following after two years of public consultation.
“Parks Victoria is ensuring all boating zones across Port Phillip and Western Port are safe, easy to identify and also easy to comply with,” Mr Teoh said.
“The new boating and swimming zones are introduced with upgraded aids to navigation and signage to clearly mark the zones for the public.
“The stage 3 upgrade was completed in 2014 and covered the north eastern side of Port Phillip from Seaford to Mount Martha including Aspendale and Bonbeach.”
A ‘swimming only’ zone was introduced in front of the Edithvale Life Saving Club in 2014 as part of the stage 3 upgrade (‘Jet-ski hoons ‘could kill’’, The News 19/2/14).
Mr Teoh said a review of all ‘no boating’ zones will take place later this year.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 24 February 2016
